I am just wondering if anyone has heard of a booklet aimed at children as young as eight about abuse, it is called In the Know. It does decpit some graphic pictures and adult concepts. I do not think that it is a good idea as basically we are deamonising adults. Yes children should be aware of abuse and that it is wrong, but should learn about it at school in personal and social education, not from a booklet.
We are creating another form of fear in our children. On cotton wool kids a few weeks back, there was this little girl, she was in her garden, and was going through the potential dangers that have obviously been taught to her by her parents. For example, she pointed to a rose bush and said that this could prick her and hurt her so she will not touch it. So what if it pricked her, isnt childhood about learning even if it does hurt a bit.
Not all adults are abusers and to make children afraid. I am of mediterranian origin and so is my husband, we are very tactile towards each other, and our baby. My husband thinks nothing of kissing and cuddeling her, and blowing raspberries on her tummy to make her giggle,forward wind eight years, what if she has been given a booklet like that, this implants stuff into her head and she accuses us of abusing her because we kiss and cuddle her
it doesnt say all adults are abusers it just helps young people stand on their guard which really is necessary in this world.
it helps them recognise signs of abuse and how to deal with it and where to turn if they think it is happening to them.
there is a big difference between giving your child a kiss and cuddle before bed or blowing raspberries on their tummy and sexualy abusing them. and thats how the leaflet helps, with letting them know wen things are going too far. it teaches them what is right and what is wrong.
I have read the booklet using the link that you kindly provided, I feel while the layout and content is appropriate for older children and teens, it would be completely inappropriate for younger children. Some of the way in which things are explained are in an adult manner and not age appropriate.
It must be me, but this kind of thing would make children especially young ones,very scared and wary. Parents are not perfect, we do make mistakes and children are by no way angles themselves, they can have a way of making you annoyed or angry. I am not saying that physical and mental abuse is acceptable, however we might see a spaight of phone calls to social services from disgruntled children accusing parents of mistreating them, when that is clearly not the case, and the whole thing has been blown out of proportion.
I remember shouting to my mum as a child that i would report her to social services during one of my tantrums, I did not really mean it, i was just trying to hurt her. I have read in the news a couple of months back whereby a teenager reported their parents to social services because an argument had blown out of proportion, and had bitterly regretted it as they could see how badly they hurt their parents, and they were taken into care while it was being investigating.
Of course real abuse happens I am not denying that, and children have got to be aware that this is wrong and where to go to for help, but this booklet interprets everyday normal kind of situations into abuse. Gosh if that was the case when i was growing up i would have been removed from my parents by social services. I tu
sorry about the long reply, gosh when i was a girl, 8,9 10 years, my mum and I would have these physical girly arguments, it would start by me wanting my own way and having a tantrum, mum shouting and pulling my hair, me hitting her and pulling her hair, then me going to my room and slamming my door lol, i was such a little wretch.
It would be much more traumatic if i was removed from my mum, it would really cut me up, deep inside i love her and it was one of those love hate things. Now we are very close, and do not hold it against her. But according to this booklet i would have been abused by my mum and need to be taken away from her.
Originally posted by pigletmania: sorry about the long reply, gosh when i was a girl, 8,9 10 years, my mum and I would have these physical girly arguments, it would start by me wanting my own way and having a tantrum, mum shouting and pulling my hair, me hitting her and pulling her hair, then me going to my room and slamming my door lol, i was such a little wretch.
strictly speaking these days if u pull your childs hair or smack them it is seen as abuse!
my life tho pigletmania your teenage relationship with your mother sounds just like mine lol! i'm dreading my daughter growing up! x
It would be much more traumatic if i was removed from my mum, it would really cut me up, deep inside i love her and it was one of those love hate things. Now we are very close, and do not hold it against her. But according to this booklet i would have been abused by my mum and need to be taken away from her.
we had a bit of a volatile relationship but i love my mum, and do not hold it against her and it did not affect our relationship. It would have been worse had i been removed from her, i did not see it as abuse and still dont, i guess its just the relationship we used to haved lol. I came from a loving home, not perfect by anymeans, but can look back and say yes i had a lovely childhood was loved and well cared for, even though i sometimes got dads heavy hand if i was rude.
i feel for those people who are genuinly abused or harmed. I was reading of a woman who was abused from the age of nine unil she was 28 by her dad who made her pregnant by him when she was in her teens. She was so scared and did not have the courage to go for help until later in her twenties which was really sad.
This in the Know booklet can be a good thing if someone who is being abused sees it and realises that what is happening to them is wrong and where to go for help and not blame themselves or think it is their fault when it is really not.
yes i have a baby daughter so wont be a teen for a while thank goodness, but can look back at my childhood and experiences and hopfully handle the situation in a better way
